Listening with Care, Building Community Together — TCCS Holds Successful Roundtable Discussion with Provincial MP and Minister of Children and Family Development Jodie Wickens

Today, a special roundtable discussion initiated by TCCS (Tri-City Chinese Society) was held in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. The meeting specially invited British Columbia Provincial Legislator and current Minister of Children and Family Development Jodie Wickens to attend, engaging in face-to-face discussions with local Chinese community representatives to listen to public concerns and understand community issues.

The roundtable discussion invited representatives from various organizations to present constructive opinions and suggestions on multiple topics directly impacting the interests of community members:

Focusing on housing issues: Balancing the rights of landlords and tenants As conflicts between landlords and tenants have increased in recent years, community representatives suggested that the provincial government should give greater consideration to the rights of landlords when formulating relevant policies to promote mutual understanding and harmonious coexistence between both parties.

Supporting Early Childhood Education: Expanding Preschool Programs Representatives called for more educational programs targeting preschool-aged children in the community, particularly affordable early childhood education resources for new immigrant families to help children better integrate and develop.

Community safety challenges: Homelessness and drug addiction
Participants pointed out that the issue of homelessness in the community has not been fundamentally improved, and suggested strengthening the placement and support system. They also called for increased support for drug addiction rehabilitation programs to help addicts reintegrate into society.

Advocating for Vulnerable Groups: Employment and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities The discussion also addressed employment incentives and welfare support for persons with disabilities, emphasizing the need for more humane and sustainable approaches to help them achieve self-reliance in their daily lives.

Education reform recommendations: Incorporating financial literacy courses Representatives proposed incorporating financial literacy education into K-12 basic education to enhance teenagers’ understanding and ability in money management and financial planning, laying a solid foundation for the future.

Improving the efficiency of the education system: Community parents generally feel that the current school website system is not intuitive enough and that information is scattered. They hope that the provincial government will promote the improvement and integration of the school website system to improve home-school communication efficiency and make it easier for parents to obtain student information and various notices in a timely manner.

This symposium was not only an in-depth dialogue between the community and senior government officials, but also a practical attempt to listen to public opinion and gather wisdom. Jodie Wickens, the Minister, listened attentively and responded warmly to all suggestions, stating that she would actively convey the community’s concerns to the provincial legislature and relevant departments to drive specific policy improvements.

TCCS will continue to play its role as a bridge, advocating for the community and facilitating more efficient communication, striving to build a more inclusive and caring Sanlian community.